Large number of women and girls queued up to register for various events at the Bidar Utsav for Women, held as part of Bidar Utsav, on the National College grounds here on Thursday.

While some people had already picked out their teams, others formed teams on the spot. Anganwadi workers, who played cricket for half a day with students from the district sports hostel, were gracious in defeat. The winners celebrated by humming a film song and dancing.

Government employees and others formed teams to play throwball. Some of the participants were so caught up in the match that they continued to play even after the umpire blew the whistle.

A game that almost everyone wanted to be part of was musical chairs. In another game, participants won prizes if they managed to aim right and throw balls into boxes from a distance. Some of the participants took part in a running race.

Finally, women competed to see who could jump up and take a bite of the jalebis hanging above their heads.

The event seemed to have brought out the child in them as they could not contain their glee every time they grabbed a jalebi. A total of six teams, including two of girls, four of women and one team of government employees, participated in the events.

Zilla panchayat president Santoshamma Pundalikappa inaugurated a
mini-marathon at the historical monument of Choubarah to launch the utsav.
Hundreds of girls and women took part in the marathon from Choubarah to Bidar
fort. Later, competitions like rangoli, mehendi, vegetable carving, fruit
decoration, jhatpat cooking, painting, and debate competitions were held.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. P.C. Jaffer, and Additional Superintendent of
Police G. Sangeeta were present. Sports events, including cricket, throw ball,
musical chair, pot-breaking, stringing thermocol beads, jilebi and rope,
lemon-spoon race and others would be held at the National College Grounds from
8 a.m on Thursday. Prize distribution and valedictory will be held in the
evening.